馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
International correctional conference in Africa explores technology and innovation in prison systems
via Le Matin10 min read
For the first time, the International Correctional and Prisons Association ICPA is holding its world conference in Africa, signaling a strategic shift to recognize the continent as a source of innovative solutions for correctional challenges. Forty-five nations are participating, sharing over a millennium of collective experience in prison management. The conference, themed "Human and Resilient Futures: Rethinking Prisons Through Innovation, Infrastructure, and Technology," aims to create a global platform for knowledge exchange, highlight innovative approaches balancing security and human dignity, explore designs adapted to regional contexts, address specific challenges in African prison systems like overcrowding and insufficient staff, and foster collaboration among various sectors. Key themes include smart planning and design, digital innovation, sustainable infrastructure, rights-based approaches, and specific challenges and opportunities in African prison systems. Terry Hackett, Senior Associate at the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform, noted the universal challenges of overcrowding, aging infrastructure, and under-resourced staff. Natalie Boal, ICPA Executive Director, emphasized that current prison infrastructures were not designed for today's pressures or rehabilitation needs. Kim Ekhaugen, ICPA Vice President, stressed that no single institution can build future prison systems alone and that facility design reflects societal values. Morocco is showcasing i
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The unemployment gap between men and women in Morocco has increased to 9.7 percentage points since the pandemic, with the women's unemployment rate reaching 20.5% in 2025, compared to 10.8% for men, according to Bank Al-Maghrib's 2025 annual report. This gap was 5.7 points in 2019. Additionally, women earn less, with a nearly 23% wage gap in urban areas in 2019, according to the High Commission for Planning HCP. Morocco ranks in the bottom decile globally for gender equality, despite constitutional provisions. The activity rate for women decreased from 21.5% to 19% between 2019 and 2025, while for men it fell from 71% to 68.5%, maintaining a 49.5-point gap. Rural areas have seen a significant increase in disparities, largely due to successive years of drought impacting agricultural activity, which employs 86.4% of active rural women. Social norms also contribute to these inequalities; a 2017-2020 global values survey found that 64% of men and 48.3% of women in Morocco believe men should be prioritized for jobs when opportunities are scarce. Furthermore, 69% of men and 54% of women consider being a housewife as rewarding as paid employment. Practical difficulties such as insufficient work flexibility and inaccessible childcare services also hinder women's participation in the labor market. This issue extends beyond Morocco, with a World Bank study indicating that removing barriers to women's employment in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan MENAAP region c
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